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In Darkness Bound  by Fiondil 6 Review(s)
TariReviewed Chapter: 16 on 11/5/2010
The departure of Intarion's parents, even though they went in different directions, does not bode well for the elleth. I smell trouble brewing.

Author Reply: There is certainly trouble brewing, Tari, though what form it takes and against whom remains to be seen. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/30/2010
At least there is provision given for those whose parents are behaving like asses, as is true of Ingoldo and his self-centered wife! Good enough, then.

Author Reply: Very true, Larner. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

SunnyReviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/25/2010
Now that Findaráto has arrived in Vanyamar I wonder if the story isn't about to get rolling... ;-) And there is the expected "As long as you feed me" remark! :-D

Ingoldo and Tinwetariel are definitely being a real pair of ... donkeys ... about their son's betrothal. Who he marries is _his_ decision to made, after all. And I can definitely see Ingwë insisting that nobody and nothing being permitted to detract from Intarion and Lirulin's big day just to drive that point home.

Ingoldo riding out with a group of armed retainers set off all my "Treachery coming up" alarms, finely honed as they are by years of reading SF and Fantasy. It shall e interesting to see what - or who - their prey is, or if Ingoldo has only planned a very accidental "friendly fire" incident. I certainly understand Ingwion's wish to have his uncle where he can see him!


Author Reply: Hi Sunny. You are correct that now that Findaráto has come to Vanyamar we should be seeing a bit more action. It would have been nice to have been able to avoid these background chapters, but since Tolkien has given us nothing about what happened among the various groups of people involved in this story, I've had to make it up as I went along, hoping that the actions and reactions of the various parties were true to them and to the situation. It hasn't been easy but this is truly terra incognita.

Anway, we will see what Ingwe things about his brother's antics when he returns to Vanyamar and how he deals with him.

Glad you are enjoying this story so far. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I greatly appreciate it.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/25/2010
Hm, think I am with Ingwion when it comes to prefering to have both Ingoldo and his wife where I can keep an eye on them, leaving as they did is a little imature on both their parts if they think the Betrothal Dinner can not take place with out them.
Oh, I do like Findarato here, he is just what the Twins need, he has some very firm ideas as to what the Twins need to do, plus another friendly face is always good to have around.
What is it with Findarato and food or is he just being irritating?
Huggs,
Lynda

Author Reply: Hi Lynda,

I'm glad you like Findarato here. He is like a breath of fresh air to the Vanyar and his irreverent manner is just what the Twins need.

As for the thing about food, I believe it's an old family joke. Findarato loves to eat, something he has in common with Ingwion, as you may recall Nienna hosting the "Feast of Every Dish Known to Elvenkind" when Ingwion was visiting her. *grin*

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I am very grateful.

Hugs back.

ParmalokwenReviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/25/2010
Finwë: Idiot. I predict that this case will become a cautionary tale to future generations of Eldarin parents regarding the dangers of playing favorites with one's offspring.

The Valar: Not as wise as they think they are. (I know, we've had this conversation before.) They were right to require that Finwë and Ingwë recuse themselves from judging Fëanáro and Ñolofinwë's case due to their close relationships with both the perpetrator and the victim, but they should have explained that decision. Finwë's present temper tantrum comes from his failure to understand a certain basic principle of justice. Would it have killed the Valar to enlighten him? I know, I can't argue with canon, but by all the stars I can still whine about it!

Findaráto: I am loving this look at pre-kingship Finrod. He's clever, we can see why he'll make such a great king, but he's not yet acquired his Scary Majesty side.

Ingoldo: Treacherous, spoiled little toad. Perhaps it is a good thing that he and Fëanáro are not better acquainted. With their overblown sense of violated entitlement, they'd get along fabulously, probably to everyone else's regret. And he would do well to open up a copy of Axani ar Haimi himself. I'm sure he knows perfectly well what his obligations are, but he's forgetting that he doesn't actually have any authority at all to stop his son from marrying. That is a party that can happen without him, and will if he doesn't stop being such a brat.

All in all, quite an enjoyable train wreck* to read.

*Train wreck: A story which is known to be heading swiftly and unswervingly toward disaster, yet witnesses cannot look away.

Author Reply: Hi Paramlokwen. Your analyses of the various characters is very right on. *LOL* I'm thinking with Finwë, the Valar did tell him that he should refuse to hear the case but being a stubborn Elf, he refused, or rather, he refused to hear it at all because he did not believe there was any need for a trial. That's when the Valar stepped in. Not the smartest move they've ever made and there are times when I wish I could ignore canon and just go with it, but I have tried very hard to stay within Tolkien's vision of the Valar and the events leading up to the Darkening, so my hands are tied on the one hand, but on the other, within the vagueness of his words, I can play around a little bit.

Anyway, I'm glad you are enjoying reading this little train wreck (and yes, I understood the analogy). May you continue to do so. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I very much appreciate it.

RhyselleReviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/25/2010
Only time for a quick review today as work is busy, and at home I can't read due to a close encounter between my netbook and a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows--the catalyst was a growing child's clumsiness. While the netbook is in critical condition and looking terminal, no humans were injured in the accident.

Fave line: Findaráto shrugged. "For as long as you feed me." *giggle*

I love his irreverence! So refreshing in comparison to the stuffiness of some of the older Noldor and Vanyar that we've met.

I want to strangle Ingoldo and Tinwetariel... Even knowing that they will ultimately get what is coming to them, an age or two down the road, doesn't help keep me from growling whenever they are "on stage". But, of course, it's what they are doing "off stage" that is the real threat, right?

I know that the most recent chapters are providing a lot of background and supporting info for chapters to come, and I like that. The leavening of humor makes the necessary exposition flow, and the characterization of the younger generation of royal elves still charms me.

I was wondering if this tale will continue to be a bit "distant" from the thoughts and emotions of the main characters. In Elf Interrupted, even though you never go into a "first person" perspective, we got a lot of Glorfindel's inner thoughts and motivations, while so far in this tale, I don't feel that I'm really inside any of the main characters. Part of me wants to be inside Ingwion's, Inglaure's, and Intarion's heads a bit more than we've been able to be so far. I care about the characters because you made me care about them--or at least about Ingwion!--in "Elf Interrupted". I'd wonder if a new reader, who hadn't read other parts of your body of work might feel as if this was a somewhat unemotional fic so far. Of course, once Melkor and Ungoliant make their move, things should get really emotional, really fast! *wry grin*

As always, I finished the chapter feeling overall satisfied and very much looking forward to the next one. Well done!

Author Reply: Hi Rhyselle. For a quick review, this is pretty thorough. *grin*

Anyway, I'm glad you are enjoying the story and especially Findarato.

As for your concerns about distance: these early chapters are necessarily laying the groundwork for the rest of the story and in later chapters we will be spending a lot of time with individual characters, such as Ingwion and Ingalaure and Findarato and some others. They will in turns have their own set of chapters devoted to them and their adventures. I suppose I have written this story under the assumption that most readers will come to it via my other earlier stories, especially "Elf, Interrupted". Hopefully any new readers will be just curious enough about the story to keep on to the 'good parts'. *grin*

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I greatly appreciate it.

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