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The Grey at the End of the World  by jodancingtree 4 Review(s)
perellethReviewed Chapter: 8 on 7/22/2005
Woah! that was great! I liked the uncertainty pulling at everybody's nerves, just waiting for the attack. Certainly, I agree with Canohando. Those men behave much as orcs... and he would know! I'm glad Osta survived, although I'm not very optimistic about the final outcome of them all... the Shire included. This has the twilight light of the end of a world...

Not that I'm one for tragedy, mind you, i rather read happy or fun stories, but I love a well written one, and yours has the markings. Doom, necessity, bad choices, no false hopes or forced happy endings to dire situations, and the simple hope that there may be light at the end of the tunnel. I'm hooked.

Author Reply: Yes, sadly, the end of a world - and yet, the beginning of another. Not as sweet and magical, of course - but still a beginning -

CalimeReviewed Chapter: 8 on 7/22/2005
A wonderful action packed chapter; I'm anxious to get on with the battle. I like that the trees are entering the picture, even if it is on both sides.

This was a nice bit of characterization: "Canohando tapped his front teeth with the handle of his knife, a habit he had picked up when he no longer had Arwen's Jewel to rub between his fingers."

The elbow bit was just as nice.

Author Reply: Glad you liked it, Calime!

InklingReviewed Chapter: 8 on 7/22/2005
He had always had sharp elbows.

Ha! Never underestimate an Orc…problem is, there’s two of them.

Excellent build-up and release of suspense as the battle finally breaks…I hope the nasty Old Forest helps out despite itself. And thank goodness the Mayor is no fool—but then, he’s a descendent of Sam, after all. It may be the end of the Shire but not of Hobbits…


Author Reply: Oh no, not of Hobbits! For Tolkien certainly wrote about them as if they're still among us, if we had eyes to see. (Actually I know a guy who looks the way I imagine Frodo at the end of Following the Other Wizard - no more than 4 feet tall, with curly, salt-and-pepper hair down to his collar, laughing eyes and a warm smile... he's the music director at my church, and he has a beautiful tenor voice.)
jo

Rose SaredReviewed Chapter: 8 on 7/22/2005
Ah yes, you poke with those elbows canni - but you just can't go on killing off those good OC's - sniffle, Osti too? sob.
Great tale well told.
Rose

Author Reply: lol - Oh, I thought of letting Osta fall at the Bridge - had it written, in fact - but he has a way of dodging out of the way, and he's too darn stubborn to kill easily!
jo

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