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Beyond the Bounds of Life  by Hai Took 8 Review(s)
Christine Fulcher Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/26/2022
I like this about Merry's experience of the Black Breath as it is called. Merry is one of my favourite LOTR characters, and I think there isn't enough fanfic about him.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/28/2021
This is wonderful! Merry has been my favorite hobbit ever since my first reading of the book version - long ago now, but I still remember falling (tumbling?) in love with him at his despairing thought, She should not die, so fair, so desperate! At least, she should not die alone, unaided. (I had been half in love with Frodo up until that point, from the moment he "struck at the feet of his enemy" on Weathertop. Ah, brave hobbits.)

Your writing, weaving over and around and through the quotation from the original text, fits seamlessly, and I love the little details you bring out, like the shadows in the mist, and the man (Faramir's spirit, perhaps?) and Eowyn stumbling ahead of Merry at one point, and the vision of Elessar (which reminds me a little of Frodo seeing Glorfindel "for a moment as he is upon the other side"), and Merry's perception of the smell of athelas. And I love how gently Strider guided Merry back to the world of light and life.

I am also glad at the hint in the story description that there will be more chapters to come.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/15/2021
So good to hear from you again. Welcome back!

Merry's healing helps prepare us for those of Pippin, Sam, and Frodo. We see Aragorn's healing power is coming into its greatest power.

(Although, he wore the Elessar stone as a brooch. The Star of Elendil was set in a circlet or on a metallic ribbon to be worn on the brow.)

Again, so glad to read your writing again.

KathyGReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/23/2021
Nice! I like how Aragorn called Merry back. I hope you'll continue this; I want to see how he calls back the others!

MirkwoodmaidenReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/22/2021
Hai Took!

Glad to see you back! I was away from Fanfic for 10 years and felt the itch to return in 2019! Middle Earth is just such a wonderful place to spend some time in!

I really loved the story. There was a palpable sense of loss in Merry while he is enveloped by the shadow. You captured it quite well. Please pull up a keyboard and stay a while!

MM

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/22/2021
Hello Hai,
I am so glad that you are flexing your writing muscles as this was great.
More please!

Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoyed it! I am planning a couple of more chapters so hopefully those will be up soon! Thanks for the review!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/22/2021
I'm so happy to see you back, and with such a nice gap filler. I've also been 'stumbling in shadows' for a few years, longing to return to hobbity writing but not sure of the way back, so I hope I can be inspired by your example. I'm looking forward to more chapters! :)

Author Reply: Hey Shirebound! It has been a while! I have often been tempted to return and have dabbled on and off on my computer but finally decided to just go ahead and share! I would be delighted if this inspired you to return to writing as well! Your stories and plot bunnies were often inspiration for me, has it been fifteen years ago? Thanks for the review!

SueReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/21/2021
Just awesome! I was crying as Merry stumbled through that horrid mist beset by shadows. I am 70 and often looking death in the face. I hope there is light and meadows and a sweet spring for me too. Thank you.

Author Reply: Thank you for leaving a review! I'm glad the story was touching to you!

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