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The Book of Mazarbul  by Soledad 4 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/20/2016
Ah, so now, at least for a time, Oin's wanderlust is sated. But there are allies for Balin for when he tries to reopen Moria, at least.

Author Reply: Well, he needs some tough Dwarven cookies if he wants to go back there, doesn't he?

walkerskyeReviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/21/2010
a fascinating tale, very worth telling. I'm eager for more. is it still in progress? I like your dwarves, very interesting culture and people. if you've got 50 to introduce us to, your intro will take quite a long time. but like the Professor, we all love a good, meaty story.

Author Reply: Well, I've just posted a 3-part filler chapter (you can find them after Chapter 3, if you're interested), and hope that it will improve the story and iron out the break between the two story arcs.

Yea, as you can see it's still *is* in progress. :)

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 10 on 6/23/2009
I think we'll see the Fire-mage again in this story; at least I hope so. Fascinating scene with the salamanders/proto-dragons.

Author Reply: Oh, we'll definitely see Eikinskialdi again! But first, we'll meet the heroes of the Battle of Azanulbizar. *g*

The manfish caught my imagination at once when I visited Postojna Cave in Slovenia last year. The fact that they were thought to be baby dragons when they happened to come to the surface fuelled then the proto/dragon idea.

Kitt OtterReviewed Chapter: 10 on 6/22/2009
I thought that this would keep me busy all week… yet I read it in two sittings. So here’s my bulk review.
I liked the history lesson and The Hobbit recap. I never could imagine Dain without enormous muscles. ;)
Loads of interesting stuff – the Dwarf-twins, the 300-hundred-year-old Loni (!!!), that Gloin is father of five, and that the magic door needed not be magic (I guess that’s practical!).
I felt overwhelmed along with Rei and Nali over the Dwarven art.
The in-depth discussions on the weapons was so interesting; I actually felt like I learnt something on bows and crossbows…
“Dwarven society was an intricate network of kinship and alliances and rank based on both birth and personal deeds; a system that would give any other race a headache.” - Yep. :)
Stargold sounds beautiful.

“but Óin had a certain… reluctance to talk to people who had apparently come back from the dead.” – Hehe.
I always wanted to know what lay out in the Withered Heath too. I liked Gloin’s prophetic words about Gimli’s travel-longing.
I can’t tell you enough how much I love Tolkien’s dragon-lore! I’m as fascinated as Oin… or very close, anyway. I did some research on that a while back. However Morgoth could have bred them is a big question.
“And those are exactly the flaws one could detect by Elves and Men… and even Dwarves, should they happen to catch the Dragon Sickness,” added Óin grimly. - I never thought of it that way before, that Dragon Sickness induces Dragon’s own flaws onto their victims.
*laughs* Long have I wondered how difficult it was to get that Smaug-stench out of the Mountain.
Ooo, Rune-smiths and Fire-mages… so interesting.
I also loved this line: “That makes sense,” said Óin. “Gold is the metal of the Sun, and the Sun is the source of every clean fire. Only the dark flames of Udûn come from below.”

Beautiful descriptions, even if it’s of desolation. It reminded me of Martian and Lunar landscapes, actually.
I like Eikinskialdi – he’s not the least what I expected him to be. :) Besides being sassy, ancient, and a Fire-mage, his status as a Petty Dwarf makes him so intriguing. (And I had been impressed by Loni’s age.)
You’re right, the manfish are fascinating! That’s quite a theory of them being the precursors of Dragons.
Oho! Now the topic of retaking Khazad-dum comes up, and there’s a whole band just waiting for an invitation note to go. Yay!
From the Barrow-downs to the Withered Heath and eventually into the depths of Khazad-dum, you’re taking me all over Middle-earth that I’ve always wanted to see… and be too afraid to go to. :D Thanks! This is so much fun to read!

-Kitt

Author Reply: I established Glóin's family in "A Dwarven Yuletide", although I keep forgetting how many sons I actually gave him.*g*

I regret that the Return to Erebor chapter misses a full third here, but the rules are the rules. Too bad, though; the Flói storyline is one of my favourites.

You should really seek out Ro's Dwarven art at Elfwood. This whole story has been inspired by her gorgeous Dwarf pictures.

As for dragon lore, that part cost a great deal of research, but I enjoyed every minute of it.

I'm glad you still enjoy the story. In the next part, we'll meet some heroes of the Battle of Azanulbizar.

Thanks for the lovely comments+

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