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Kingdom of Ashes by Linda Hoyland	7 Review(s)
Estelcontar	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/2/2011
Having Thorongil always close, and having to withstand being compared to him must not have been very easy for Denethor. You gave us a glimpse of how difficult it must have been. Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review. Yes, it must have been very hard for Denethor to be compared to Aragorn.

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/2/2011
Poor Denethor; he is something of a stick-in-the-mud; and Thorongil is more down-to-earth (as well as mysterious and lordly and all that) and more approachable. Couldn't help but feel for Denethor here though, realizing that his father favors a stranger seemingly above him. Denethor is not one to stop and smell the roses, at least not enough; and takes his position very seriously, doesn't he.... Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.It must have been very hard for Denethor as he lacks the common touch and natural charaissma of his great rival.

Ellynn	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/2/2011
Oh yes, I remember this from Teitho very well. :) Excellent story. I think that your characterization is perfect. I enjoy reading this again. Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review. I'm pleased you are enjoying rereading this story.

ainisarie	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/1/2011
Wonderful beginning! Can't wait to read more...soon please. Denethor is such a complex character. Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.I'm pleased you are enjoying this.I'll post more soon, I promise.

Darkover	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/1/2011
Dear Linda: You have written another great story! Even the title, "Kingdom of Ashes," is inspired; Denethor would not only be the last Ruling Steward, but he reduced himself--and tried to reduce his remaining son--to ashes. The story itself is very well written, as always. You have done an excellent job of portraying Denethor's prideful character and his POV. He was ready to look down on "Thorongil" and disdain him as an "ambitious upstart" from the moment they met. Another man who believed, as Denethor did at first, that the new captain had no father, that he was one of a nomadic people, with no home to call his own, and the only way of making his way in the world was apparently by being a mercenary soldier--another man might have felt compassion for Thorongil's hardships. Another man might even have admired Thorongil for raising himself up, for succeeding against such odds. But not Denethor: indeed, once he stopped being so dismissive of Thorongil, and realized the new Captain was more than capable, he perceived Thorongil as a threat, and treated him accordingly. You portrayed this with your usual insight, and your usual fine command of both dialogue and style of writing. You also did a very good job of adhering to canon, as Tolkien made it clear that Denethor and Thorongil were rivals almost from the beginning, although he also stated that was not by Thorongil's intent. I did feel a bit sorry that Denethor felt supplanted in his father's affections by the new Captain. I get the impression that he did not feel secure in his father's love, and wanted to be closer to Ecthelion, but did not know how to go about it. Being Denethor, he "took [his] father to task" about it, which of course would not bring them any closer. When he said; "You have me, my father," I did feel sorry for Denethor. But I also felt sorry for Ecthelion, who just sighed and changed the subject. Apparently father and son were not close, and perhaps never had been. That may have been Denethor's fault, or his father's, or both; it may have been the result of circumstances. But it was not Thorongil's fault, and yet it was just easier for Denethor to assume that it was. Being Denethor, he is disgusted and disdainful of Thorongil's patience with human weakness, and feels threatened by the devotion the men have for the new Captain. In portraying that, you were again faithful to canon, for as I recall, Tolkien wrote something about how that was one of the biggest differences between the Steward and his younger son; both could read men's hearts, but Faramir was more inspired to pity, whereas his father was inspired to scorn. Denethor was a hard man, who only became harder following the death of his wife. I'm sure he would have been resentful of a man like Thorongil, who was just as resilient and dedicated, but who could be kind and compassionate when necessary. BTW, those passages about how Finduilas was initially attracted to Thorongil were also very good. It gave Denethor yet another reason for jealousy and resentment. I suppose it must have seemed to Denethor that Thorongil was already supplanting him in every way--with his father, with the men, even with the maid Denethor loved. As Denethor is not a man much given to introspection, I don't suppose it ever occurred to him to consider the possibility that others loved Thorongil more than him, not because Thorongil was some kind of emotional weasel who insinuated himself into their affections, but because Thorongil was just a more lovable person. You have done your usual great job of characterization in this story, portraying Denethor as a hard, dedicated, but prideful and stubborn man, who will not unbend at all, even for the people he supposedly loves. He regards his father as an old fool for treating Thorongil with affection and respect. He regards his young wife as weak for needing to visit her home and family, and guilty of unseemly behavior because she wanted to frolic a bit on the beach. Again, I admire your writing and thoroughly enjoyed this story. You could let it end here as a one-shot, or you could continue it with more chapters. I hope you will choose to continue it! Sorry this has been such a long, droning review. Thanks again for writing and posting this story. Sincerely, Darkover Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.It was a real treat to read!I'm so pleased you are enjoying the story and feel it fits well with canon.I felt I should shake Denethor as I was writing it!I'll be posting more very soon.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/1/2011
This is a beautifully written story. Poor Denethor, his times of true joy are so temporary. I love the way you write these characters. Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review. I'm pleased you like the way I portray the characters as Denethor is something of an experiment for me.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/1/2011
So, so early on Denethor already was far too rigid? Alas that this should be so! A fascinating contrast between Denethor and Thorongil! Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.I think Denethor's story is one of Tolkien's greatest tragedies in LOTR.

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