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| Darkness Falls by Kara's Aunty | 27 Review(s) |
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| ainisarie | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/27/2011 |
| I am enjoying this group of ficlets. The last one made me smile a bit..perhaps the descriptions of Smaug the Truly Terrifying, Lord Smaug the Impenetrable, Smaug the Tremendous...leading up to Smaug the Fool. I hope you plan to write more of these. Author Reply: Hello ainisarie, gosh what a relief to get some feedback - and positive feedback too! Honestly, I was beginning to worry that I'd messed up that latest chapter there, but I wasn't sure what was wrong with it because it received no critique. Though I suppose it could only have been the subject, really, because Smaug hails from The Hobbit, and the language & tone of the chapter were written accordingly (well, I tried!). The Hobbit, as a novel, is geared more towards a younger audience than its successor, so perhaps that's why Smaug may not strike readers as sinisterly as Shelob, or the Witch-king, etc. Still, I am thrilled you read and enjoyed CHapter 4. Most of the titles (of Smaug and Bilbo) are actually lifted from the book, with maybe a wee one or two of my own chucked in for good measure. And there will be more chapters at some point. Thank you so very much for R & R-ing, ainisarie! Kara's Aunty ;) | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/12/2010 |
| When I first saw this story I had no time to read it. It's rather long, you know ;-) But now I had enough time and I think it is very well done. Just imagine how long the battle between Gandalf and the Balrog actually lasted and you won't say that your account of it was too long! I, for my part, liked that you started with the history of the Balrogs. Author Reply: Hello Andrea, *chuckles*. I know. It IS longer than I'd intended it to be. It was only supposed to be a ficlet, but, you know how it is - sometimes the words just keep coming ... Glad you enjoyed the Balrog history. There're very little facts about them in the books & on the internet, so a good bit of that was artistic licence on my part :) Gandalf's battle with the Balrog was ten days long (I think), so yeah, you're right - my account could have been a whole lot longer (am blissfully happy that it wasn't. Not in a million years could I have written a ten-day-long-battle. Nightmare!!). Thanks very much for R & R-ing, m'dear. Schlaf gut! M :) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/10/2010 |
| My friend, do not seek to amend it, but I do suggest removing your end comments. Some stories write themselves as they ought to be written, and all attempts by us to change them only do harm. This one is complete, and done properly. Let it stand--it has a magnificence that is worthy of much praise. Author Reply: Hello Larner, thanks for that. I think let this one settle a bit more into my mind now, and am not quite as 'unhappy with it as before. It is what it is. And if you think it has a '...magnificence that is worthy of much praise...' (really, THANK you for that), then who am I to argue with the great and talented Larner? *wink* I do think I'll leave the end notes, though. They're an honest expression of how I felt about this fic at that time, and to remove them now would feel ... funny. Does that sound odd? Probably. Just chalk it up to one of those writer's 'quirks' that we all have now and again ;) Thanks very, very much for R & R-ing. It's always an honour to have your thoughts and a pleasure to know you enjoyed, M :o) | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/5/2010 |
| My most dear and talented cousin, 'tis a shame, very nigh to a crime, that you have only received one review here! But it is not due to the quality of the writing which is wonderful - I've already written myself a note to nominate it for this year's MEFA's. Perhaps it is just the time of year. This is a masterpiece of darkness and fallen light that I had only read part of when I reviewed due to being unable to finish at the library so here I am again. Don't doubt your beginning and history of the Balrog - that is the best part in a tale that is full of greatness. You make them innocent, even sweet, in using their heat and flame for good and then the Enemy steals that innocence away - very like the way he works even now - and there is sadness for them that they were so deceived. Doesn't look though whether you have answered the big question though - do Balrog actually have wings or just seemingly so? :) But at least you have settled who that unnamed power was that Gandalf fought at Balin's tomb or at least provided a possible explanation. I didn't know before what it was. And that other power before the battle was joined that the Balrog detected was the Ring itself? I love also what you said about "Innocence and fear shone on its face, though evil pulsed from its breast, calling out to him, entreating him for aid..." Good ending too. Namarie, God bless, your bloom :) | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/2/2010 |
| My dear, dear cousin - do not *ever* doubt your ability for brilliant writing - man oh man, this is wonderfully done! Love the beginning about how the Balrog was once good and how they all got corrupted. This is so well done and you are truly gifted in the ways of the dark mind. *wonders if I should be concerned about that* :) Happy New Year! The sooner you come back, the better I'll be pleased to at least paraphrase Mr. Barliman Butterbur. Namarie, God bless, your spring berry :) Author Reply: Hello my flower, Happy New Year to you, too! I hope you've had a wonderful, blessed festive season. And what a blessing for me that you read and reviewed! As I said in my A.N., I wasn't too sure about this fic. It seems I'm not the only one, either, 'cos you're the only person who has left any feedback on it since it was posted. I don't know if it's the style I used, or if it doesn't flow quite right, or maybe even if it's just the unnecessary spiel at the beginning about the history of Balrogs that's making me question it. Still, you, at least, enjoyed the history lesson, so perhaps I'm just imagining issues where there are none. Perhaps my dubious gift of understanding dark minds is addling my wits (which wouldn't be difficult - I don't have THAT many wits to addle!). Or it might just be a result of all that mulled wine at Christmas ... Ooh, yes. I like that better. Blame it on the alcohol! *chuckles* Anyway, this 'ficlet' is longer than the others because Gandalf's ten-day battle with the Balrog couldn't (for me) be described in a paltry 1,000 words. However, this meant I had to research Udun's flame in more detail, because I knew so little about them (or Melkor) before. Which explains the whole spiel about Morgoth, etc. It seemed a shame to waste all my shiny new knowledge, so I included it in the fic as a backdrop to the Balrog's story. I'm delighted you enjoyed the fic and thank you for your (ever) kind words of support. You have made me feel a bit better about this one, m'dear, so thanks for that. Thanks for R & R-ing, Cousin Mo :o) | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/19/2009 |
| Ah, the Witch King's point of view! And well done once again. I just saw that Antane agrees with me about your "evilness" ;-) The Witch King never saw Eowyn's accomplice. He just had no time to do so. What would he have thought if he had found him to be a hobbit? Author Reply: Hello Andrea! Yep, your last review sparked a riot and now everyone's rushing to comment on my utter depravity. *chuckles madly* Poor old Witchking; he never saw Merry coming, did he? Bwahaha! Just as well though - if the sight of Eowyn upset him, the sight of another potential slayer of his would have finished him off before Eowyn so much as had the chance to raise her sword... Thanks for R & R-ing, and for leaving such lovely feedback, M :) | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/13/2009 |
| Another gift here, cousin mine! The poor Witch-king - believed his own publicity too much I fear - and feared no loss at all for who would be in battle but a living man? But no, a woman and a hobbit holding a dead man's sword brings him down. Don't you just love it? And I love that quote about the houses of lamentation for how could he know of its torments if he didn't experience them himself? That other reviewer was right that you do have a way into getting into the mind of evil - which, of course, you did exceedingly well with the Ring, so maybe you could go back to that? *prods you with furry Tookish foot* Namarie, God bless, Your impish, cheeky blossom :) Author Reply: Hello m'dear sweet cuz, I'm glad you liked it! I've always wondered what thoughts ran through his head when Eowyn unmasked herself, or if he knew fear when he saw death racing towards his face in the shape of her blade. Perhaps he was too consumed with disbelief and pain after Merry's wounded him, to realise that his end was nigh. But I like to think he knew - even for a moment, the tast of fear himself after instilling it in so many others throughout his unnatural existence. As for the getting into the mind of an evil being, I'm already in one - my own! Bwahahahaha! Thanks very much for R & R-ing, M :) | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/13/2009 |
| What a marvelous and chilling point of view. His own death, at anyone's hands, would have been the last thing this servant of darkness would ever have believed possible. Author Reply: Hello shirebound, yeah, I know. Can you imagine his surprise when the 'man' pulled off his helmet and, lo & behold, it was a woman instead? *chuckles* Thanks for R & R-ing, M :) | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/11/2009 |
| An excellent view of the W-k's last moments! Good job! Author Reply: Hello Dreamflower, so happy that you enjoyed it! It's been buzzing about upstairs (in my head) for a dew weeks, and it was deliciosly satisfying writing about his shock, denial and horror. Gosh I'm a bit twisted, actually... Thanks for R & R-ing, M :) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/11/2009 |
| Ah! The Witch-king's own POV of his last encounter. Rather satisfying, I must say! Author Reply: Hello Larner, it was rather satisfying writimg it too! Eowyn's & Merry's defeat of the Witchking of Angmar is one of my favourite parts of the whole trilogy. A really shining moment of mutual justification for them both. Like a joint 'eat your hearts out' to everyone who told them they couldn't or shouldn't participate/contribute to the defence of Gondor bacause they were too weak, small or female. Aragorn himself couldn't have done the job better! (Well okay, Aragorn couldn't have done it at all, being a man and everything...) Thanks for R & R-ing, M :) | |