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Reclaiming Khazad-dûm  by Ellynn 6 Review(s)
Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 8/5/2021
This is probably some of the best fanfic I have ever read. Please keep up the good work

Author Reply: Thank you so much!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 30 on 6/27/2021
Oh, I know the feeling well. It's why I try to comment on every chapter I read (except those few times I find nothing good or constructive to say). The realities of war are horrid to face, and Halldis is learning this lesson well. I respect her courage.


Author Reply: I appreciate your reviews so much. They mean so very much to me. Thank you. *hugs*

AldwenReviewed Chapter: 30 on 6/7/2021
Durin's overconfidence certainly sounds like a recipe for trouble... :(
Do not be discouraged! People who do not write themselves often do not realise how frustrating it is to not get any feedback. This is a very nice story. I much prefer to see relationships, emotions and character development, and here they are nicely balanced with action. Looking forward to the next chapter!

Author Reply: As I said to the previous reviewer, no worries - I'm not discouraged in a way that I'll stop writing (I love it too much), I'm just frustrated.
Thank you so much for the support, dear. *hugs*

Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 6/6/2021
I'm enjoying your story very much. I like the give and take between Durin and his general Nardi. Nardi trying to do his duty and keep the king safe, but Durin showing his leadership and acting like a dwarf that we have all seen in the books and movies. I also enjoy all the familial interactions between the various related dwarves. Eagerly awaiting your next chapter, don't get discouraged, you're telling a great story.

Author Reply: Thank you for the review. :)
Don't worry, I'm not discouraged in a way that I'll stop writing (I love it and need it), but not receiving feedback is frustrating and painful.
Anyway, thanks for the compliments! :)

AranadhelReviewed Chapter: 30 on 6/6/2021
Hi Ellyn,

Good updates so far. I think the reason people don't review this story is because of your storyline maybe?

Like me I look forward reading about the battle but you focus a lot more on Haldis and her feelings (love, regret, scared etc) instead of her father, Durin and his battle to reclaim his ancestors homeland.

That's why I only leave a review when the battle of Khazad Dum is going to happen.

Please don't be offended by my point of view. I'm not interested in Haldis'character. It's boring. Rather read more on the battles and Durin and the Dwarf army.

Baruk Khazad.

Author Reply: I am not offended. After all (not sure if I'm going to translate/express this correctly), personal tastes are different and shouldn't be a matter of arguing.

If people didn't like the story, I guess they wouldn't read it this long. The reason people don't review is because most people are simply lazy. It's not just my story; it's everywhere, everyone's stories. Fanfiction stories, stories on different web-sites, books on Amazon... everywhere. And yes, I know it, but it's still frustrating.

As for me, if there would be a story with battles, battles, battles - well, I would find that boring. What I want in stories (mine, or other authors') are other things: I want to know what characters think, feel, what makes them happy, what makes them sad, I want to see their relationships. I want to feel their world through their eyes.
Action is ok, but action, action, action? Boring.

I wouldn't normally reveal what would happen in next chapters, but I'll say this: I'm afraid you have the wrong impression. There won't be a great big battle to reclaim homeland. Or, if you want me to express things differently, one big battle to RECLAIM homeland (not shouting but emphasizing) consists of many small battles and is already happening. After all, here you don't have one big field, you don't have two armies approaching from two sides, and you don't have one big clash. You have 21 big halls and many other smaller halls. Imagine conquering a city: you would have to win house by house, street by street. Here, in Khazad-dum, you have to conquer hall by hall. That's the bottom line. The last battle - for the last hall - the one after which you can say that you RECLAIMED your homeland - might easily be the smallest one, simply because there will be just a few orcs left.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 30 on 6/6/2021
Durin chose a worthy general, and I wish he would follow his advice. *sigh*

I empathize with your frustration about reviews. I posted fanfic for 18 years, and found that, even in the early days when there were huge numbers of readers, the number of reviews rarely exceeded 4% of the number of views/hits. These days, there are even fewer reviews, and the discrepancy never made any sense to me either. I know that my stories are still being read (because fanfiction.net allows access to statistics), and that's some consolation. If readers knew the time, energy, research, and creativity that went into writing these stories, I know they'd be kind enough to offer a word or two in a review.

Author Reply: Well, Durin generally listens to what the others have to say. But now became too self-confident and too sure that nothing can go wrong. Add to that a little bit of dwarvish stuborness - and we get recipe for disaster!
Ok, I can reveal that it will not be a huge disaster, but...

Maybe it was 4% in the past; from what I can judge, it is even less today. :(

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