News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Like a Blade Forged in Fire by Lialathuveril | 91 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/31/2021 |
| I am really enjoying this AU look at Eomer and Lothiriel! Forgot to review that last chapter, but it was wonderful too. Thank you for sharing! Author Reply: Thank you :-) It's a pleasure to be publishing again, it's been a long time! | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/31/2021 |
| Well done. You replied to my review of your first chapter with the comment that since I had said my introduction to E/L stories was your "Not the Usual Stakes", you were surprised that it did not put me off the genre entirely! It did not, because it established, for me, the way your writing draws one through a window into that world. In that story I found myself in the room with a brave new father, who was facing a sort of battle he had never been trained for! And you described it with a gentle mix of reality and humor. Now in this one, The Princess of Dol Amroth invites her host to join her on her ledge. Then you describe the valley they are seeing to us, through her eyes. The image of the meadow flowing up the sides of the hills like a wave is lovely! We are getting more development of Tarcil and Khuri, too. I found it interesting that Lotherial had her son start out the Paths of the Dead with Khuri, so that in "protecting" him, she could control her own nerves. I have been re-reading some older stories, lately. There is a story, "Distractions" written about a decade ago by author "GamgeeFest". In it, a delegation of Haradrim from a tribe which did not follow "The Eye" comes to Gondor after the war seeking a peace accord. One of the Haradrian queen's maids fell in love with a Rider, and was left behind in Minas Tirith under Eomer's protection so she could marry her Rider. In gaining her love, tho, she gave up everything she had known. Rather like Arwen of course, and like your Khuri. I like that Khuri seems to consider Tarcil her son, as much as his mother's. And we end with your trademark humor. Protective brother protests at the room arrangements only to have his sister tell him she can take care of herself. And, I like Eomer's thought that the lock is for HIS own protection for what would otherwise be temptation! Author Reply: Yes, that was indeed an epic battle and one Eomer had not been trained for, but he put up a good fight. The topic was rather omni-present in my life at the time, so I thought why not turn it into literary fuel, so to speak ;-) And thank you very much for your kind words about my style and the use of humour. This Lothiriel is a bit of an artist, so I thought she'd look at the world differently. Also the story you mention sounds interesting. Like you said, Khuri has given up everything. Some in Harad would say even her honour - and it's difficult to go against the expectations of your culture. Luckily for Tarcil and Lothiriel though, she did. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story too! | |
| Kath | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/31/2021 |
| I am thoroughly enjoying this tale of Eomer and Lothiriel! I love the back story you have given the heroine, which is gradually unfolding. This is a completely new version of the story and really interesting. Can't wait for the next chapter. Thank you Kath Author Reply: Thank you! It's slightly AU (though Tolkien told us nothing about Lothiriel), but I too thought this new twist would make for an interesting, rather different story. More soon :-) | |
| Virtuella | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/30/2021 |
| Ah, I was hoping we would find out more about Khuri, and you very kindly obliged! :) I hope she has a satisfactory future ahead of her. Author Reply: I find Khuri an interesting character, too. As for her future, I think as long as Tarcil is happy, she will be too. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/30/2021 |
| I love how she was coaxed to take the more comfortable tent by Eomer. He has his ways, doesn't he? And the manner in which she took care of the young, ardent Rohir was masterful. At least Eomer has recognized his own heart, and is wise enough not to push too hard. He still doesn't appreciate that she had come to love her late husband--an idea it appears that the Free Peoples can appreciate--that one of their own may have found one of their traditional enemies to be admirable and acceptable. But she is wise to wish to steer clear of entanglements with those who will look on her only as a prize rather than as a partner. And I love Tarcil! Author Reply: That was clever of Eomer, wasn't it, to get her to take mercy on him. Just think what the orcs would have said about him else ;-) But though, like you said, he has recognised his own heart, he has no clear understanding of hers yet. That will take a bit longer. Otherwise I'd have no story to tell! PS: And Tarcil has stolen my heart, too. There will be more of him in the coming chapters. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/28/2021 |
| A widow now, eh? And her own family cannot believe that she had come to love her late husband? It's hard to feel comfortable with such prejudice at home. Author Reply: Yes, her family is well-meaning and loves her, but they find it difficult to understand her. Hopefully Eomer will do better. | |
| Virtuella | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/24/2021 |
| Lothiriel taking the Emma Woodhouse view marriage, I like it! Author Reply: Thank you! I didn't think of that, but I suppose what they both have in common is a certain financial independence. Without that, that kind of choice becomes a lot more difficult. | |
| Virtuella | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/24/2021 |
| How nice to see another of your stories! Looking forward to seeing how this will play out. Author Reply: Hi Virtuella, nice hearing from you again! I hope you'll enjoy the ride :-) | |
| GoldenRemembrance | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/24/2021 |
| I am delighted by this newest iteration! I’ve loved rereading your lighthearted Lothiriel stories, and in fact the code word for my sisters and I is eels now too! I’ve always been interested in Harad as well and how the corsairs and Umbar interacted with Dol Amroth. Author Reply: Eels? Really? That made me laugh out loud. It is of course an excellent code word ;-) And I hope you'll enjoy this story too. Tolkien didn't write much about Harad, so it was great fun to 'colour in' that corner of Middle-Earth. | |
| whitewave | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/23/2021 |
| Thanks for another chapter. This chapter made me wonder if the other Rohirrim have noticed that their King is smitten with the Gondorian widow. I also find the lady bodyguard very intriguing -- will we find out more about her background eventually and what she thinks of Eomer. I appreciate that this story is in Eomer's POV but I also am curious what she actually thinks of Eomer. When she said outrageous things to Eomer (about selling herself just for her son) -- perhaps she was testing Eomer in a way. I think Tarcil will enjoy his sojourn in Rohan and probably pick up many friends and skills along the way. Lothiriel's purpose in going to Rohan is to ensure safety for her son / take a breather? Or is there something else she wants to accomplish? Author Reply: I think there's a fair chance that Eomer's interest won't go unnoticed. Though whether that's helpful or not remains to be seen. And there will actually be a bit more background information on Khuri in the next chapter. And I think Lothiriel is not so much testing Eomer, as just not bothering anymore to behave in the way that other people expect her to. She has no marriage prospects to lose after all. As for her reasons for going to Rohan, it's mainly to ensure her son's safety, but perhaps also to get away for a bit from her family's at times suffocating care. | |