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The Book of Mazarbul  by Soledad 5 Review(s)
LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/13/2024
Oh! I find Náli a fascinating character already! And the different clans of Dwarves and their names; interesting and plausible. Are FireBeards redheaded, by chance?

Yikes. The Barrow-Downs. I hope he knows what he's getting into.

"fed graciously". Sounds like hobbits, all right. Thievery as an established Dwarf guild seems plausible, considering the hiring of a Burglar in a later story.

Your descriptions of the landscape and the Pony are vivid and easy to visualise.

Could it be Gandalf and Bilbo? No. Grungy Rangers! LOL (Even if it's more the habitation itself that stinks, it seems.) And the Rangers' nature and relationship is interesting to contemplate.

Intriguing beginning. I will be looking forward to reading more.

Author Reply: I decided that FireBeards had to get their name from somewhere, so I made them redheads as a whole. *g*

Sweetpea DeepdelverReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/13/2016
Dear Soledad,

I found this on the front page of StoriesofArda, and remembering the last story of yours that I read (If you wish upon a Dwobbit) I came to it all eyes and ears ready!

And it was really worth it--even though I've only got to the first chapter!

I love how you portray the Dwarves in general, and girl Dwarves in particular. Everyone keeps telling me that they have (to my mind) full beards, which is NEVER how I saw them. Your girls have fake beards! *giggles* I love the compromise!

All the backstory you've woven in reminds me of the reams upon reams that Tolkein himself had done. I really enjoy it so much, and I can't thank you enough for it all! I know it has the potential to bog the story down, but for me, lots of well written backstory and research always wins me over.

Rei and Nali's stories are plausible and (as far as I know) unique among fanfiction. (And I read a lot of it!) I love how Rei is a Ranger-dwarf-girl! :)

Overall, the first chapter was a complete delight and I look forward to more!

Thank you so much!

Author Reply: Awww, thanks, I'm so glad that you enjoy yourself! So very few people are interested in Dwarves, especially in original characters, it's good to find a kindred spirit.

corranisReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/3/2013
A well written piece with a nice flow and word choice but I do got a question.

How did you come to the understanding that Stiffbeards are "specialized in pickpocketing, petty theft, burglary, cheating in games and so on."?

Because my favourite house is the Stiffbeards, I thought that I have read all there was to know about them (canon and fanfic).
I knew that they were slender build and a bitt shorter, but not that they were practised in the arts of burglary.

Was this creative writing or did you used a source?

Author Reply: The slander is all mine I'm afraid. But if you take a closer look you'll see that it isn't all Stiffbeards, just the members of the Thieves' Guild and thus Náli's family. The others are mainly breeding ponies and moving stuff from one Dwarven settlement to another; also often serving more prestigious families.

I'm glad you like the story anyway. Most people are scared away by the ungodly amount of background stuff and the army of original characters. ;)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/25/2009
Love the world-building you show, with the culture of the Stiff-beards being explored as it is and the fascination Nali knows for Rei.

Fascinating so far. Will try to get back to it tomorrow.

Author Reply: Dwarves are so unexplored! Even the Professor was mostly focused on the LongBeards. Ro did some stuff with the IronFists in his excellent Gimli story, "Of Fire and Stars", but that's basically it. I wanted to give each Clan very specific traits.

Kitt OtterReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/21/2008
Well, I am interested in Dwarves! This is very rich in Dwarven culture and customs. Dwarven women are a rarity, even among fanfiction, and for one to be adopted by a Ranger is quite original. A thief guild? Now this strange. I say Nali should change occupations, but robbing the Burrows really is not the best idea; I hope Rei and Hallavor can do something... And oh my, what can be done about the love-longing?
The idea of retaking Moria fills me with excitement. I cannot wait to see how this story goes.
-Kitt : )


Author Reply: Well, the attempt to retake Moria is canon - Glóin tells about it Frodo in "Many Meetings", IIRC. But that part won't be coming for a long time yet - we'll meet a great many Dwarves and witness a great many Dwarven adventures first. :)

Thanks for taking a moment to review, I'm glad you liked the story so far.

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