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Strangers  by MP brennan 21 Review(s)
Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/9/2013
I'm sorry to see this series come to an end as I've enjoyed it very much and would love more tales of Harad from you. I especially enjoyed the irony about Thorongil before they knew who Aragorn was. I love your stories and hope there will soon be more.You are a very talented writer.

As you asked for concrit "and by luck alone I stumbled upon a certain First Age bauble tucked away on a run-down ranch and so picked up your trail.”

I heard the pop of a cork. “Have some wine, Gandalf,” Dakheel said, “It seems you could use it.”

"Ranch" and use it" sound very American rather than M-e to this British reader, "Farm" and "need it, or could do with it" would sound more M-e.
The rest of the story feels like a lost chapter from Tolkien.


Author Reply: Thank you for the lovely review! Thanks especially for pointing out my "Americanisms," they keep creeping in somehow . . .

-Brennan

rsReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/8/2013
You never cease to amaze me. As usual, the reader ends up wanting more at the end of the story. The conclusion was just heartwrenching *sob*. Your Aragorn is so the Aragorn that I imagine he would be.

The images you conjure up (it's not hard for a scene to develop in my mind with your wonderful descriptions), the emotions, the anticipation...everything!

I'm still dying to know who the "master of the house" is. For the life of me, I can't figure it out, it seems that it might be someone I should know? Or I could be totally wrong and he/she is a totally new character not yet introduced to your stories and you're just doing this to drive me crazy?

I hope I see more of your writings!

Author Reply: Thank you for the wonderful review! I'm so glad you enjoyed this tale! Sorry about the red herring with the "master of the house." I wasn't intentionally trying to drive you crazy, but that character hasn't appeared in any other stories yet. I kept it ambiguous so that I would have that character to introduce and develop if I ever manage to write the Aragorn-POV version of this story. Sorry!

-Brennan

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/3/2013
How difficult to have to face such suspicion, and from one thought of as a friend. It must have been difficult to kill Tariq, but to turn against Aragorn simply because he was identified as Thorongil was not a good turn of affairs.

But why did the former boy thief want to tell the whole story now? I find myself wondering as to what in this new comer brought out such frankness.

Author Reply: Thank you for the wonderful review!

-Brennan

Phyloxena Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/3/2013
A great twist. Please, more!

Author Reply: Thank you! This story is complete, but I may write more in this "universe."

-Brennan

ElentarriReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/2/2013
"an invasion from the Last Alliance of Concerned Relatives.” " = Priceless :D

Can't wait for your next story.

Author Reply: :) Thanks! I'm glad you liked this one.

-Brennan

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/1/2013
Wow! What a great way to end this. My mouth was open the entire time. You are such an awesome storyteller. Bravo! Can't wait for more tales.

Author Reply: Thank you for the awesome review! I'm so glad you liked this story.

-Brennan

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/1/2013
A masterful tale, beautifully crafted. It's as if you've uncovered previously-unknown, hidden manuscripts from days that have slipped into legend.

Author Reply: Thank you so much for the lovely review!

-Brennan

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/30/2013
Hooray for Aragorn! This story left me wanting to cheer.I think we both see Aragorn in a similiar light,so I love reading your stories about him. You are inspiring me to write more about this culture!

Author Reply: And this is why I love fanfic: you inspire me to write and I inspire you to write, and pretty soon we have this beautiful continuous feedback loop of more fic. ;D

Seriously, I'm glad you enjoyed this tale, and I'll eagerly await any Harad stories you decide to write!

-Brennan

LyanaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/29/2013
Love, love, LOVE your characterizations! I will be very sorry indeed to see these tales of Harad come to an end. You've developed a side of Aragorn that I don't think I've seen in fan fic before (but must have existed for him to have survived the way he did!). And I will now, forever, have "Dakheel" ingrained in my mind as one of his many names.

Author Reply: Thank you! I've had a lot of fun with these fics, so I'm glad you've enjoyed them. I hope you like the conclusion to this one!

-Brennan

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/29/2013
Aha! Oh, but Aragorn has given this man a good deal of well-deserved grief! And I suspect that nomadic tribe indeed was strengthened by Aragorn's men. And it's likely that this group of "traders" includes some of the missing villagers.

Trust the Eye's people to resort to violence as "discipline" and overkill as retribution.

Author Reply: Yep, it was a pretty good day's work for Aragorn. ;) With this chapter, I really wanted to show how this hyper-violent culture was being imposed on the soldiers and conscripts, basically from the top down. Thus, all the mentions of corporal punishment as well as the whole plot of razing the village--when you're inundated with that kind of violence on a daily basis, I imagine it has a corrupting influence which Sauron would find useful in his Army.

Thanks for reading!

-Brennan

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