Reviews for "Another Man's Cage"

Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:41 am

I have been following this fic religiously for a while, tho I have not reviewed *bad reader, BAD!* since my law and debate has been killing me lately. Just wanna say, exquisite work. Luv it luv it luv it!

Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:50 pm

Chapters 2 & 3. Ah, the excellent scene in the kitchen. The boys are adorable Smile smiley face

I really like all the detailed descriptions and Celegorm's accurate observations (i.e. the following: "Macalaurë always plays music after supper, and the apprentices stay long enough to be polite—for three songs—then plead exhaustion and excuse themselves." Wink smiley face

, especially regarding Maedhros' love life Wink smiley face

.

Then, Nerdanel and Feanor are wonderfully shaped, and I like that you accented their mutual closeness and the love for their sons. To quote one of my favs:

"Now we can abandon propriety for comfort. When Atar and Amil return from bidding their apprentices a good evening, Atar sprawls out, half-lying on the couch and holds his arms out to Amil, who trots to him with her face shining like an eager adolescent and settles between his legs with her head lying back on his chest. His arms circle her, and she tilts her face to his for a kiss that lasts long enough for me to jump up from my seat on the floor and fling myself onto her lap."

The scene in the washroom was very insightful. Smile smiley face

Excellent read. Thank you.

Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:50 am

Chapters 4 & 5. Finwe's arrival in Feanor's house and the following events as seen through Caranthir's eyes were a wonderful example of how a child sees the world around, their parents and relatives. I love the remark about the sword for Manwe and the fight at the beginning of chap. 3. You've managed to slip into the mind of a boy and describe what was going on around him perfectly.

Poor Maglor. Working in the forge, under the supervision of his father wasn't his cup of tea. Wink smiley face

I really admire how you've presented every single change of Feanor's mood while Finwe and he talked, and how his anger surfaced. These two chapters were emotion-packed, spanning from irritation, to anger, fear and impatience, to love and passion. Carathir appeared to be a very careful observer and listener.

Wonderfully done. Thank you.

All the best,
Binka

Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:21 am

Chapters 6 & 7. I have only one younger brother, but I can so relate to what Maedhros said about his lack of privacy and losing his patience (oh yes, he was the eldest and expected to know better. How very true!) when he was about to prepare for departure, but his siblings decided to disrupt those preparations Wink smiley face

. I really loved the swearing game and Maglor complaining that he had to work in the garden. LOL, that part was priceless.

The party. You've described it wonderfully. So many details, and so intense chapter. I could almost hear the music and see the dancers Smile smiley face

Besides, it was really fantastic to have a glimpse at Maedhros' and Maglor's love lives. The kiss scene was splendidly written.

On a side note, when I read about that young elleth's half-Vanya husband, I immediately thought about Glorfindel. Any suggestion as to why...? Wink smiley face

Excellent read! Thank you. I hope to read more soon Smile smiley face

Binka

Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:08 am

Chapters 8 & 9. Again, full of very accurate observations, and I especially like all the differences between the families of Feanor's half brothers and his father, and his own. Now, I think the following can sum them up: "But I stop always at his eyes. They are the blue eyes of Indis, but that is not what gives me pause, but rather, the lack of light in them—the light that enlivens and consumes Atar’s countenance—makes me think always that, would Atar’s spirit flee his body, the body that remained would look exactly like Nolofinwë."

This bit shows how careful an observer Maedhros was, and his love and devotion for his father.

I liked the ways in which you carefully portrayed Earwen and Finarfin, Anaire and Fingolfin, and finally Finwe and Indis. The differences came to life and created very detailed and vivid portrayals. And I felt sorry for young Fingon. It must have been so heartbreaking for him.

Great job Very Happy smiley face

I'm looking forward to reading the next chapters as soon as I can. Thanks Smile smiley face

Binka

Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:11 pm

Chapters 10 & 11. What a nice shift of the PoV. I was actually wondering if you were about to bring Nerdanel to the first row, and yay! You did, in a most wonderful way. I really was looking forward to hearing her voice Smile smiley face

And you've nailed her, in my opinion. These two chapters present her as a woman, a mother, a wife (and the wife of a prince), and of course she's not a marginal character, as some of us for sure remember her from the Silm, anymore. You've given her a most needed voice, and I sweep a deep bow before you. Thank you for such a complex, full of life and passion, portaryal of Nerdanel. Just WOW (let me be fangrily for a moment Wink smiley face

).

Do I have to tell you I'm looking forward to more? Wink smiley face

I hope to get back to reading soon.

All the best
Binka

Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:13 pm

Chapters 12 & 13.

Awwww, the events presented from Fingon's PoV prove again that you've done a splendid job slipping into the thoughts of a child. These two chapters were a perfect mixture of homesickness, curiosity, awe, fear, and admiration.

"I miss Tirion. I miss my family. I miss home. / Even the things I despised, I miss."
The above is a very heart-wrenching conclusion.

“Yes, dearest husband, and then we shall have to quiet Carnistir when he walks down the path and finds us and goes to Nelyo crying that Atar is trying to drown Amil in the spring. Or have Tyelkormo telling everyone at every feast for the next ten years about how his parents were spawning in the pond south of Formenos.”
LOL, this is priceless Very Happy smiley face

Ah, here comes the rivalry between Celegorm and Fingon, and Fingon proved to be a very brave and honest little one, having asked Feanor to release Celegorm from the punishment.

Once again, awesome writing Smile smiley face

Thank you!
Binka

Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:37 pm

I haven't stopped reading your story. It's just, my work was a bitch the past weeks. But here I am, slowly getting back to reading and reviewing Smile smiley face

Chapters 14 and 15. So we're back to the story told from Celegorm's PoV. The following bit gave me a good laugh: "At that moment, Nelyo comes through the door, and I hear the conversation falter again, and the maidens who have been so interested in Macalaurë turn away from him in mid-sentence, their lips parted and their eyes wide and staring." Now, this was priceless, LOL. But I wasn't surprised that they paid attention to Maedhros Wink smiley face

(Sorry Maglor!)

These chapters were, as usual I may say, full of very interesting and accurate observations, and I'm beginning to think that Celegorm is the best at telling a rich and detailed tale about the family's life. But what especially caught my attention was his feelings toward his cousin and Maedhros, underlined with doubts, and jealousy but of different kinds. He thought that Fingon might take his place in Maedhros' heart as a brother, but with Maedhros' relationship with Annawende, it was a different story. It feels to me, that Celegorm feared loneliness the most. But he did a great job accepting his eldest brother's decision Smile smiley face

By the way, the end of ch. 15 was fantastic: "Nelyo and Macalaurë’s duets are famous, for they only occur after they have both had more than their share to drink." Again, LOL!

Now, on to the bit that made me shiver: "But, for every second that you stand here now, with me, then you crush his spirit a little more, for perhaps he fears that, even in the better moments, you will let the dark times overtake your love for him.” Just awesome moment, and so honest it hurt. It was brilliant.

Thank you. I'll be back soon, hopefully Smile smiley face

All the best,
Binka

Sat Sep 01, 2007 4:40 am

Manwe in Varda????!!!!!! I haven't stopped laughing!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:28 am

This was an absolute wonder to read. Your words are beautiful, weaving pictures into my head. I was astounded to see how few hits you've gotten, but then again, the Silmarillion fandom isn't extremely big.

However, I was disappointed to note that the story remains unfinished, and I cannot help but wonder as to how it would have ended. Thank you, though, for sharing it. Such a lovely piece of work. I hope to be able to read the end of it some time in the future.

Beatrisu

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Reviews for "Another Man's Cage"