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| Brothers at Heart by Radbooks | 88 Review(s) |
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| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 3/19/2006 |
| Oh good, you have caught up here so I can review. I am really enjoying this Radbooks especially the detailed look at village life. The develoing relationships are great. Author Reply: Thanks, Harrowcat for your review! Yes, I did finally catch up with the story here. I'm glad that you enjoy the way I portray the village life, it's been interesting to try and capture that feeling and so I'm glad that it is coming across as I intended. The relationships are interesting to write and develop and I have really come to enjoy some of the OC's a lot - Halhigal, Nestad, and a few of the men back in Dolomar. Besides, of course, the relationship between Aragorn and Halbarad! I know their are so many characters though I do try and keep focused on certain 'main' ones and the smaller ones just sort of drift in and out as needed, so I hope it's not too confusing for readers. But a village has a lot of people and so there are lots of small interactions with people - mostly men here in Taurnand. Thanks again, Radbooks | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 3/18/2006 |
| There is always someone with a secret grudge against one or another or even a whole family. I'm certain we'll learn Hirgon's story soon. Good decisions by the young Chieftain. But I'm certain he'd have learned about making unpopular decisions from Elrond. Author Reply: Larner, Yes, there are often secret grudges held against others, though Halhigal and Nestad both know what is going on and you will find out in the next chapter! :) Aragorn really did the only thing that he could to help his people survive through the winter and with this village being the smallest it will, in the long run, strengthen the other villages if they are not able to return. I am certain that Aragorn would have learned about making unpopular decisions from Elrond, but it is not the same as actually having to make them and seeing how they affected people right in front of him. Seeing their fear and grief of losing their homes and even if he knows it is the right thing to do, it would still be difficult for him and would make him question himself. As he gets older it would probably become easier for him, but I think at this stage of his life he would still have doubts about such a big decision. That's why he has a wise and caring Uncle to speak to! :) Thanks for reviewing! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 3/17/2006 |
| And so we see him beginning his learning of how to do this vital form of healing, and developing his leadership skills. A young man already on his way to becoming a great King and leader of mortals. Author Reply: I'm sure that Aragorn started using that healing sleep at young age, why would he not? If you have an ability like that I would think you would use it when it was necessary. And it couldn't have been easy to do something like that... at least it doesn't seem like it would be, not at first. :) Aragorn was very young when so many things happened to him - and then has to wait years to actually marry and become king! Within five or six years of this story he will be leaving the Dunedain and going down to Rohan and Gondor. Aragorn was quickly put into positions of responsibility in both of those lands and so you know they sensed things about him. I think there was just always an innate sense of authority about him and this time with the Dunedain gives him the chance to develop the crucial leadership skills he needs for his life. Thanks for reviewing! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/17/2006 |
| Aha--we are catching up at last. Am looking forward to seeing this finally coming to new chapters over what I've read elsewhere. Of course, you don't need to send replies via email, but can respond here on the site, you know. Very much looking forward to following your work here from now on. Author Reply: Yes, I am just about caught up with what I have on the other sites! I didn't want to post too many chapters here at one time, though even putting out a chapter every day might be too much, but it seems to be working all right so far. By the way, did you receive the Aragorn wallpaper I sent you? If not, I'll send it again, it was a rather good one! :) You can email me if you would like to have it. | |
| rikwen | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/13/2006 |
| I am just catching up on your tale here and I find it to be very interesting so far. Your descriptions of the people and the environment of the village that Aragorn has come to live in makes it come alive with real people and problems. It was a very meager existence that the Rangers and their families lived - the men on patrol a great deal of the time and the wives and children left behind to fend for themselves as well as they could. I also liked how you have developed the budding friendship between Aragorn and Halbarad - friends and becoming brothers. Aragorn does have a lot to learn here. Even though he has been well-trained by the elves in military strategy and weaponry, he still has a lot to learn about how men live and handle dangerous situations. It seems like he already has some good ideas about trained healers, educating younger children and food stocks. Everything Aragorn will need to know when he becomes king. I feel that he will still have to prove himself to some of his followers. I look forward to the rest of this tale. Author Reply: Thanks for reviewing my story! I am glad that you have been enjoying it so far, I have tried to make it as realistic as I possibly can. Well, as realistic as I think it might have been for the Dunedain knowing how the men traveled and protected the different parts of the north. I think Aragorn also has an incredible amount of book knowledge, he was very well schooled in every area by Elrond and the elves, but that is not the same as practical experience. And, of course he is very young to be in the position he is in, but he is a quick learner and there is a strength and authority in him that people respond to. Thanks again! | |
| Endaewen | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/10/2006 |
| Nice! I think you've captured the feeling of life for the Dunedain, and Aragorn's feelings of uncertainty. We always see him as so confident and sure of himself. It's nice to see the early days. Author Reply: Thanks for your review. I've always felt that there had to be a certain amount of uncertainty and questioning going on within Aragorn during that time of his life as he took over his role as leader of the Dunedain. He was so very young to be in that position and well-trained or not, you would still feel that, especially as he did not grow up among his people. Everything was new to him... even if he had read and learned about the Dunedain - and I'm sure he did - it is not the same as experiencing it. Aragorn is fortunate that he has had the proper training and that will help him overcome any difficulties he might encounter, but internally he might question himself for quite some time. Thanks again! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/10/2006 |
| Ah, I rejoice to see this here, where it is easier to review and to receive feedback as well. So glad to see you here, my friend. You asked about longer paragraphs--have several friends who are dyslexic who have asked that paragraphs be fairly short and separated by a blank line to assist them in reading them. Well, it is fairly standard that the paragraphs are separated by blank lines on most sites, but the length of paragraphs tends to remain a matter of taste and style. Some insist on very short paragraphs of only a sentence or two; others write quite long paragraphs. I would look for natural breaks for paragraphs and use them accordingly. In looking at some of the longer ones here, I don't see them as excessively long. The one responding is very possibly one who has difficulty reading anyway. Anyway, am looking forward to following this story here from here on. Good to see you on board. Author Reply: Thank you! I was thrilled to be accepted here. I knew that 'Safekeeping' did not fit the guidelines, but since I finally had one little short story finished as they required and I felt I had a good start on Brothers at Heart, they might accept me. I will post those completed chapters over the next week or week and a half until I am caught up. Thanks for your feedback on the paragraphs. I do use what I feel are natural breaks and most of the time, I do not see how I could just cut them in half say, without ruining the flow of the narrative. But I want to be sensitive to the needs of the readers as well and so that's why I asked. It is something I will keep in the back of my mind as I write. Thanks again and it is nice to be here. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/9/2006 |
| Oh I am glad to see this story posted here Radbooks. Larner introduced me to it on the other site and I have been avidly following it but find it difficult to review there. Author Reply: Thank you! I do remember recieving a review from you on the other site. I just received permission to post here and so will start posting the story here a little at a time until I catch up. | |